Disney slot machines

When Disney acquired Marvel Entertainment in 2009 and LucasFilm in 2012, those smaller companies already had pre-existing licensing agreements with slot machine manufacturers IGT and WMS. Then in October 2013, Disney announced that those licensing agreements for Star Wars slot machines and Marvel slot machines (Avengers, Iron Man, Spiderman) would not be re-newed and the machines would eventually be phased out.

Disney is famously anti-gambling-- they consistently lobby to prevent new casinos from opening in Florida, and their cruise ships have no casinos on board, which is a bit of an anomoly in the cruise industry.

Here's what I'm curious about: do casinos own these machines or are they leased from the manufacturer? Will the existing Star Wars & Marvel machines be returned to the manufacturers and destroyed? Or will the casinos that currently have them get to keep them until they are eventually technologically obsolete?

Either way, those things will become extraordinarily valuable collectors' items.

My observation on Disney's stance on gaming is not that they've taken a moral stance. Rather, they want to be the single destination for your entertainment dollar. They were a lovely, unique destination with their own branding (Magic Kingdom) plus Walt's dream, which was Epcot. Then they noticed Church Street Station was doing great business in downtown Orlando as a conglomeration of family-friendly bars and restaurants; along came Disney Island and Downtown Disney to grab those dollars, and Tango Uniform for Church Street. They used to partner with Premier Cruise Lines with Disney characters on board and nice coordinated packages; then they decided they were letting too much money go outside and bought and now run their own cruise ships, putting Premier out of business. They noticed Wet n Wild was doing well, so, voila! Blizzard Beach and another water park. WnW is close to bankruptcy. Sea World? Let's build Animal Kingdom. Universal Studios doing well? Build Hollywood Studios park. Hotels nearby? More and more destination on-property resorts. Bleah. Greed and control.

So, they don't want to offer gaming, who cares why. But to Disney, that means nobody else should do it either. Mickey Rat has decided, so mote it be in Florida. Did I say rat? Should have been pig.

Not sure of the timing, but the Iron Man slot (that I think is brand new; not sure who offers it), might be the best new slot I've seen in the last 5 years. It can't be more than 2 years old given what it does, with the entire lower case a touch screen and the bonus sliding up onto the top screen as well. Just a phenomenal job by WMS. (I note the date on this video per Google is November 2013, so about 2 years, I guess). I dare you to watch this and not want to play that game afterwards. :)

http://now.wms.com/products/ironman

What a pity that Disney wants it offline. Jerks.

"Mickey Rat"?

Many Disney staffers call him that, too.

Yeah, they've been open for 44 years down here; those of us who resent their arrogant Big-foot approach to Orlando and its residents have been calling them that for at least 40 of those. Carl Hiaason wrote a pretty interesting book about (he's a pretty popular Florida author and Miami Herald columnist). Let me know if you want to read it and can't find it.

yep, i'd like to read that, gotta link ?

Star Wars Trilogy is my favorite slot of all time. Unfortunately, they've taken it away

Quote: ahiromu

Star Wars Trilogy is my favorite slot of all time. Unfortunately, they've taken it away

I was wondering what happened to those.

Op, I don't know the exact answer but I do know that my local had star wars which was in a big display with fancy chairs and all. When star wars left they kept they entire display but rebranded it. That leads me to believe that the casinos own/rent the machines and can rebrand and reprogram them to different types of machines.

Quote: JohnnyQ

yep, i'd like to read that, gotta link ?

http://www.amazon.com/Team-Rodent-Disney-Devours-World/dp/0345422805/ref=sr_1_fkmr1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1438738679&sr=8-1-fkmr1&keywords=Hiaasen+Disney+Mickey

I wanted to answer this a couple of days ago but wanted to touch bases with the Slot Manager first. According to him almost all of the TV/Movie themed games are offered only through a licensing arraignment. The casino may buy the hardware but the software running the game is leased. There are sometimes exceptions such as the new Bally Wonder Woman can be bought for a lump sum royalty fee.

Considering that all marvel base slot machine would be gone from casino in a few year but not immediate. I think some casino owns a marvel base slot and to cover their investment they need to keep it running and make money for them to have a decent profit on it. What I think that Disney mean is No more new marvel based slot will be made but regarding with slots that is currently running they cannot immediately throw away those slot. It will keep on running until it becomes to expensive or it's running life run out.

Given that Disney is a family oriented company they will surely banned the use of their characters on a gambling games. For them gambling is a sin and sometimes destroys family. But how will Disney immediately banned Marvel based machines that currently running. Casino operators have to make profit from their investment.

This one sucks. Just because they bought Marvel that they can phase out those good slot games. This is not fair for casino operators and also to those who wish to play a Marvel base slot specially captain america

Haha at Disney. They act like they are all innocent but they have no problems charging $12 for a hot got and fries that cost them $2.50.

According to PaiGowDan, Disney is simply trying to protect their overhead and bottom line for their stockholders and employees salaries. Putting other hard at work legit businesses into bankruptcy is good for those companies who are trying to AP Disney.

Princess cruise lines? How dare they try to make a buck at Disney's expense. Doesn't Disney have the right to do anything within their power to keep their profits flowing?

Hotels sprouting up in the area to suck off their clientele? Disgusting.

Water parks and Universal studios offering similar packages to their parks stinks of AP business practices.

I have no problem with disney making huge profits. I just think it is hypocritical to say slot machines and even drinking are horrible things when price gouging is A OK.

Quote: GWAE

Haha at Disney. They act like they are all innocent but they have no problems charging $12 for a hot got and fries that cost them $2.50.

I never thought Disney was that overpriced on most things. Enough to make you groan sure, but I never thought, "Wow, that's ridiculous." I bet those from Europe probably think the prices are good! Is somewhere like Six Flags that much cheaper for food? And if you want to be technical, a regular hot dog and fries is $8.79 at Disney World...lol I bet Busch Stadium in St. Louis charges about that. :(

Quote: GWAE

Haha at Disney. They act like they are all innocent but they have no problems charging $12 for a hot got and fries that cost them $2.50.

25¢. Not $2.50.

Quote: tringlomane

I never thought Disney was that overpriced on most things. Enough to make you groan sure, but I never thought, "Wow, that's ridiculous." I bet those from Europe probably think the prices are good! Is somewhere like Six Flags that much cheaper for food? And if you want to be technical, a regular hot dog and fries is $8.79 at Disney World...lol I bet Busch Stadium in St. Louis charges about that. :(

My daughter insisted we stand on line for a slice of pizza when visiting Disney even though I complained it was $8 for a slice and we could get it for a buck in NY.

When we finally had our order taken, we saw the guy reach into the freezer and retrieve a Stouffers French Bread slice and open up the door of his microwave. My daughter wisely said never mind.

Quote: tringlomane

I never thought Disney was that overpriced on most things. Enough to make you groan sure, but I never thought, "Wow, that's ridiculous." I bet those from Europe probably think the prices are good! Is somewhere like Six Flags that much cheaper for food? And if you want to be technical, a regular hot dog and fries is $8.79 at Disney World...lol I bet Busch Stadium in St. Louis charges about that. :(

Semantics :-)

I disagree, I very much groaned. 4 people getting a hot dog, fries, and a drink and our total was something like $48. I got the cheapest one possible but my wife had to just not care and get one with chili and cheese. Sigh